There is lots to do within a short walk or drive.
Welcombe is on the boarder of Devon and Cornwall in one of the regions most dramatic stretches of coastline, in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, popular for walking, surfing, bird watching, artists, geologists and holiday makers.
The beaches are a good mix of sand, pebbles and rock pools with high cliffs, low valleys and tumbling waterfalls. There are lots of traditional English pubs serving above standard locally sourced food.
Since moving here in 2005, we have become avid Bird Watchers. We hang plentiful supplies of bird food around the house to feed all the resident tits, sparrows, finches, black birds, occasional starlings and doves. You can enjoy your breakfast, watching them enjoy theirs. In spring they are nesting in every corner of roof space, with families of swallows in our barn. In autumn huge flocks of starlings gather giving their acrobatic displays. I've seen many yellow hammers and birds of prey in the local lanes, particularly buzzards and kestrals. There are obviously many sea birds along the coast but I'm looking out for the bull finch and woodpeckers that have been seen down our lane!
Local Activities
Gooseham Stables offers horse riding through scenic countryside in Morwenstow;
Various types of fishing can be arranged, sea fishing for mackeral, sea bass, etc. from the shore or on a boat trip from Clovelly, also course lake fishing or river trout fishing;
Stately Homes like the gothic Hartland Abbey, with it's fabulous walled vegetable garden and colourful woodland spring walks;
Show Gardens like Docton Mill (which does delicious lunches and cream teas), the R.H.S. Gardens at Rosemoor or a day trip to the Eden Project;
bicycle treks the whole family can hire bikes in Bideford and ride The Tarka Trail, over 30 miles of disused railway line which gently meanders through the Devon Country side.
You can take a boat trip or helicopter ride to Lundy Island to spot seals, puffins, basking sharks, etc.
There are many acivity/indoor play centers such as The Milky Way, The Big Sheep and Brocklands that offer families a fun day out in all weathers;
Our neighbours, The Yarner Trust, offer year round courses in sustainable and creative living.
Anything from Straw Bale Building to textile jewelry.
The local towns and villages also offer shopping, art galleries, farmers markets, farm shops, health food stores, yoga classes, etc.
This coast has inspired the legends of King Arthur, smugglers and wreckers and authors like Daphne du Maurier. And luckily for us it still remains unspoilt by the tourist trade.
Nearest airport: Bristol at 120 miles
Nearest beach: Beach at 1 miles
Nearest motorway: Tiverton at 60 miles
Nearest railway station: Barnstaple at 25 miles
Car: necessary
Welcombe walks: beach, pub & historic church
There are lots of good walks from the house particularly as the public footpath leads form our field to the famous famous South West Coastal Path.
The walk to Welcombe Mouth Beach is about 25 minutes, but quite steep, not recommended for small children. Driving is possible, there is a small car park at the end of a rough track, followed by a short foot path down the cliff (not wheelchair friendly). This makes the beach less busy and more visited by locals than some of the more accessible, sandy beaches a little way down the coast, like Bude, Sandy Mouth and Widemouth.
All the beaches down this stretch of coastline are very popular with surfers. Bude has a few surf schools and places to hire boards and wetsuits.
Welcombe's pub, The Old Smithy is about 15 minutes walk across the valley on a public foot path. The Smithy is very child friendly with restaurant quality food (lunch and dinner).
The Bush pub in Morwenstow (2 miles) has a similar reputation for good food and it's next to The Rectory tea rooms which serve Delicious Cornish Cream Teas!
Shops: Welcombe has a pottery and a small shop/post office. Kilkhampton Village or Hartland Village (5 miles) have a small collection of shops, mimimarts, butcher, DIY, Farm shop, etc. Bude and Bideford are our closest towns (c.15 miles) for banks, supermarkets, etc
St. Nectan's Church holds Church of England services at 9:30 most Sunday mornings.
